Patent GB-359623-A (GB)
Title: Automatic control of pneumatically conveyed cotton or such like from a mixing or operative group to a plurality of hopper feeders or other opening and feeding or combination apparatus
IPC: D01G23/08
Filed: 1930-08-23
Abstract: 359,623. Pneumatic conveyance of cotton &c. between openers, feeders, &c. PLATT BROS. & CO., Ltd., Hartford Works, and WILKINSON, H., 500, Ripponden Road, Barrowshaw, both in Oldham. Aug. 23, 1930, No. 25216. [Class 120 (i).] In apparatus for pneumatically conveying cotton or like fibre from feeding or opening machines 3, 8 to a number of opening or refining machines No. 1, No. 2 .., Fig. 1, arranged in parallel, through a junction structure or conduit arrangement 12, a number of valves are provided and, together with the feeding machines, are automatically controlled so that when the refining machines are fully supplied the feeding machines are automatically stopped and when not fully supplied are automatically started, and when anyone of the refining machines has a sufficient or insufficient supply of cotton the corresponding valve is automatically closed or opened, the arrangement being such, however, that all the valves are never shut at the same time. The control is preferably electrical. The combination shown comprises a hopper opener 3 fed by a filling motion 4 from a lattice 5 and delivering to a lattice feeder 6, the fibre being carried pneumatically by fans at x along a tube 7 to a Crighton opener 8 thence along tubes 9, 11 over a dust trunk 10 to a junction structure 12 having two outlet tubes 13, 14 each leading to a condenser 15, 15x combined with hopper feeders No. 1, No. 2. The junction structure 12 has a laterally-adjustable inlet tube 16 and independently adjustable pendent plates 16x, Figs. 6 and 7, the size of the passageways leading to the tubes 13, 14 being adjustable whereby to regulate the air draught. Valves 20, 21 pivoted at 20x, 21x are provided for the tubes 13, 14 and preferably are opened by gravity and closed electrically, e.g. by the action of solenoids a, b having core elements connected to lever arms 22, 23 fixed on the axes 20x, 21x. The current to each solenoid a, b is controlled by the quantity of cotton in the reserve box of the corresponding hopper feeder. A board 25 loaded by a lever 27 weighted at 28 is pivoted at 26 in each reserve box, Fig. 9, and is depressed or more nearly horizontal according as the compartment has an excess or diminished supply of cotton, each board 25 being connected through a bell-crank lever 30 on the pivot 26 and a rod 29 to the lever arm f<3> of a mercury tube switch. If one or both reserve boxes is short of cotton then the solenoid circuit or circuits are broken the valve or valves remain open and cotton continues to be supplied. If a reserve box is full its board 25 is lowered, the switch f or g broken, Fig. 11, the solenoid energized and the valve 20 or 21 electrically closed, the whole supply passing to the other feeder. The drive of the mixing or opening group is also controlled. The hopper opener 3 is driven by a belt 31, Figs. 13 and 15, the belt-fork 34, pivoted at 35 and weighted at 37, being controlled by a solenoid c, the core c<1> of which is connected to the lever 36. When the solenoid c is energized the core c<1> and weight 37 turn the lever 36 and hold the belt 31 on the fast pulley 32, Fig. 13. When the solenoid c is de-energized the core c<1> is released and the belt shifted on to the loose pulley 33. Simultaneously other contacts are broken to ensure that the valves 20, 21 are opened. If both switches f, g are open the solenoid c is not energized, i.e. all three solenoids a, b, c are out of action. If either of the switches f, g is closed solenoid c is energized and the other solenoid, a or b, energized to close either valve 20 or 21. Both valves 20, 21 are, however, never closed at the same time. When both hopper feeders are supplied both switches f, g are at " break " the whole electrical circuit is broken the solenoid c de-energized and the opener 3 stopped. The valves 20, 21 also fall open and cotton in transit in the main tube 11 is equally distributed to the two hopper feeders. When either hopper feeder requires a further supply the board 25 moves upwards, the circuit is energized, the opener 3 re-started and cotton fed along the tube 11. The connections for a 3-phase A.C. supply are shown in Fig. 16. The main switch is shown at s, the relays controlled by the switches f, g are shown d, e, the contacts for the solenoids a, b, c are shown l, m, n and their operating coils l<1>, m<1>, n<1>. As shown each hopper feeder has an excess of cotton, the control boards are depressed, the switches f, g and valves 20, 21 are open, the solenoid c is out of action and the hopper opener 3 is stopped. If hopper feeder No. 1 requires cotton the board 25 rises and the switch f is closed, current is passed to the relay d which opens on the left-hand to break the circuit to the operating coil l<1> and contact l and closes on the right-hand to operate the coil n<1> closing the contact n energizing the solenoid c and starting the hopper opener 3. Closing of the contact n simultaneously closes the switch h whereby the coil m<1> and contact m are operated and the solenoid b energized, thus closing the valve 21 in the feed tube 14 whereby all cotton passes to feeder No. 1. If now feeder No. 2 requires cotton its board rises the switch g closes the relay e operates to cut off current from the coil m<1> solenoid b is de-energized and valve 21 opens.